Can you explain Hebrews 9:11?
Hebrews 9:1-7 speaks of the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the duties of the priests. We read in Hebrews 9:6-7, “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.” In God’s order, there were ‘priests’ and ‘high priests’. We see from the Word that the ‘priests’, along with other duties, “accomplished the service of God” in the “first tabernacle”, or the outer Tabernacle. There, they would burn the incense, light the lamps, put the shew-bread on the table, etc. It was the High Priest only that was allowed into the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was found. The High Priest entered this room just one time each year, on the 10th day of the 7th month (Leviticus 23:27). He would bring the blood of a bullock into the Most Holy Place, first making an offering for himself, and then for the people.
Now let’s read Hebrews 9:8-10, “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” We learn here that the Tabernacle and its functions were showing that the way into the Most Holy Place, where God dwelt was barred. The veil that hung between the Holy and Most Holy Places was in the way and it hid and separated Him from His people. None of the gifts and sacrifices could make the conscience perfect, thus they could not lead the people into the holiest and give peace to the conscience.
Now we see two powerful words…BUT CHRIST. Hebrews 9:11-12 says, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
* CHRIST BEING COME AN HIGH PRIEST OF GOOD THINGS TO COME – All the priests and high priests of the Old Testament saw their office come to an end. They were human and aged and died. However, Christ came as the eternal priest as we read in Hebrews 7:24, “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.” His priesthood will never end.
* BY A GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TABERNACLE, NOT MADE WITH HANDS – Where is this tabernacle not made with hands? We read in Hebrews 4:14, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is PASSED INTO THE HEAVENS, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Christ entered into the true Most Holy Place. He ascended into the very presence of God on our behalf.
* NEITHER BY THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD – While the earthly high priest entered into the Most Holy Place with the blood of bullocks, which could NEVER take away sins. Hebrews 10:4 tells us, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” No, the Lord came with HIS OWN PRECIOUS BLOOD into the presence of God on our behalf. 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us plainly, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
* HE ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE – Where the high priests of old entered every year offering sacrifices which could NEVER take away sin, Christ entered ONCE, and “hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
* HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US – Hebrews 10:10 says, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Because of this wondrous sacrifice of Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ has obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for all who put their trust in Him. Hebrews 10:14 assures us, “For by ONE OFFERING he hath perfected FOREVER them that are sanctified.” Have you been perfected? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as YOUR savior and Lord and received His eternal redemption? (257.10)